Carl E. Butler

Ancram - Carl E. Butler, 73, a longtime resident of Ancram and Pine Plains, NY, passed away on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, NY.

He was born on October 31, 1938 in Pittsfield, MA, the son of C. Edwin and Ruth (Cooke) Butler.

Mr. Butler graduated from Lenox High School, and went on to graduate from the University of Connecticut.

On September 8, 1956 in Tyringham, MA, he married Diane Birkett. She survives him at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Butler moved to Pine Plains from Lenox, MA in 1960, when Prospect Hill Farm was purchased as a family dairy farm, breeding registered Holsteins. Mr. Butler was a longtime 4-H dairy club leader.

He was a member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County, serving on the Board of Directors twice, and as Vice Chairman and Treasurer. Carl served two terms as Director-at-large on the Agri-Mark milk Co-op Board of Directors. He was a member of the Dutchess County Farm Bureau.

Carl was a member of the Eastern NY Holstein club beginning in 1961, serving seventeen years on its Board of Directors. He was made an Honorary Lifetime Member in 1995. He was also a member of the Holstein-Friesian Association of America, serving on the Board of Directors for 12 years, including two terms as Vice President and two terms as President. In addition, he served as interim CEO of the Holstein-Friesian Association of America in 1991. With his wife Diane, he co-chaired the 1993 National Holstein-Friesian Convention.

Mr. Butler served on candidate George H. W. Bush's Agricultural Advisory Committee and attended President Bush's inauguration with his wife Diane. He was appointed to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, serving two terms, including one as Vice President and Chairman of the research committee.

Carl was a member of the Pine Plains Lions Club since 1963, and is a past President and Zone Chairman. He served seven years on the Pine Plains Board of Education, serving one year as President. Carl also served one term on the Pine Plains Board of Assessors.

In addition to his loving wife Diane, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Linda Butler of Pine Plains, NY; a daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and John Ketterman, Sr. of Mooresville, NC; granddaughter Meghan Stanko and her husband, Capt. Stefan Stanko, USMC, and a great grandson, Ryan Joseph.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 11 at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 7749 S. Main St., Pine Plains, NY, with Rev. Carol Miller officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pine Plains Free Library, PO Box 325, Pine Plains, NY 12567, or the American Lung Association, 3 Winners Circle Suite 300 Albany, NY 12205.

---